12 most inspired online resources to spark creativity

In today’s competitive business landscape, it is widely agreed that an innovative mindset is paramount to surviving and prospering in the global economy. Laggards will die.

“Design thinking” is also important. The practice has propelled some of the most successful business stories of the last couple of decades, yet few people understand or appreciate its significance.

With today’s tight education budgets, art and other creative programs are usually the first to go in our schools. MBA programs have the means but don’t teach it. Rather than working together as a society to develop our abilities in this area, we are diminishing the very skills that are essential for sustainable success in a future that is only becoming more competitive.

So nurturing your creative spirit only makes sense. It is pleasurable, fulfilling, and business smart. As a creative director, I use several resources to help fuel my passion; I believe others can benefit from them, too—no matter your profession. To make a mark in today’s world, we should all start thinking of ourselves as working in creative fields.

Following, in no particular order, are some of my go-to online resources for creative inspiration:

The tagline for this magazine says, “The online journal of business and design,” and I’ve been reading the print version for years. The website is an excellent online resource on the ways in which design contributes directly to business success. Interviews with top executives and case histories convincingly bring the message home.

There are sections dedicated to architecture, painting, cinema, music, photography, sculpting, and design. What more do you need? Get over to this site now, and share your best finds so the rest of us can enjoy them.